A Great Day for Corporate America: US Senate Passes Fast Track-'Shameful' says Sen. Sherrod Brown

Photo: Thirteen Senate Democrats joined Republicans to make sure corporate interests had the necessary votes to pass the Fast Track bill through the chamber.

~ "THIS WAS A DAY OF CELEBRATION IN THE CORPORATE SUITES OF AMERICA", AND "SHAMEFUL" said Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) on the senate floor after the vote. ~
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COMMON DREAMS

Tuesday, June 23, 2015 by Deirdre Fulton

"A GREAT DAY FOR CORPORATE AMERICA: US SENATE PASSES FAST TRACK"
'Shameful' vote all but assures approval of mammoth trade deals like the Trans Pacific Partnership

In a win for multinational corporations and the global one percent the US Senate on Tuesday narrowly advanced Fast Track, or Trade Promotion Authority (TPA)- ensuring for all practical purposes the continued rubber-stamping of clandestine trade agreements like the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) and Trans Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP).

The cloture motion to end debate needed 60 votes and it just got that, passing the chamber 60-37.
A final vote will come Wednesday. Having overcome the biggest hurdle, the legislation is expected to pass, and will be sent to President Barack Obama's desk to become law.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-VT), who campaigned vigorously against Fast Track, said the vote represented a win for Corporate America. "The vote today, pushed by multinational corporations, pharmaceutical companies and Wall Street- will mean a continuation of disastrous trade policies which have cost our country millions of decent paying jobs", the presidential candidate said in a statement.

And Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) another of the most vocal opponents of Fast Track, railed against TPP moments before the vote, accusing Congress of turning on its "moral" obligation to assist the working class. "How shameful," Brown said. "WE'RE MAKING THIS DECISION KNOWING THAT PEOPLE WILL LOSE THEIR JOBS BECAUSE OF OUR ACTION."

According to "The Hill":
Thirteen Democrats backed fast-track on Tuesday's vote, handing Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) a major legislative victory. Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD) voted against the procedural motion.

* The thirteen Democrats who voted YES for Fast Track are:
Bennet (CO), Cantwell (WA), Carper (DE), Coons (DE), Feinstein (CA), Heitkamp (ND), Kaine (VA), McCaskill (MO), Murray (WA), Nelson (FL), Shaheen (NH), Warner (VA), Wyden (OR).*

The Democrats cast "yes" votes even though the trade package did not include a workers assistance program for people displaced by increased trade. The Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program was part of the Fast Track package approved by the Senate in May but became a key part of opposition to the package among Democrats in the House.

Lori Wallach, director of the Public Citizens Global Trade Watch, pointed out that the vote only came about via "elaborate legislative contortions and gimmicks designed to hand multinational corporations their top priority". Such contortions were necessary she added, "because the American people overwhelmingly oppose these deals, notwithstanding and endless barrage of propaganda".

Indeed, response from the progressive grass roots was fast- and furious.
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Read more:
Commons Dreams, "A Great Day for Corporate America", June 23, 2015 by Deirdre Fulton.
http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/06/23/great-day-corporate-america-us-senate-passes-fast-track

Further Reading:
Truth-out, "Fast-Track Retaliation: Back the 2016 Democratic Candidates Who Oppose TPP", R. Naiman, June 25, 2015.
http://www.truth-out.org/opinion/item/31550-fast-track-retaliation-back-the-2016-democratic-candidates-who-oppose-the-tpp